News and notes about Memphis, TN from the desk of Mayor A C Wharton, Jr.

City to Distribute Free Spay/Neuter Vouchers Starting Today

With the help of Friends of Memphis Animal Services and Mid-South Spay/Neuter Service and a $10,000 grant from the PETCO Foundation, Memphis Animal Services will begin distributing Step Up Memphis, StEP (Sterilize Every Pet) vouchers this week.

If you want to adopt cute, little Ciara, call MAS at (901) 362-5310 and tell them her ID number is 227113.

“In order to meet our goals and reduce the number of strays and loose animals that we ultimately have to pick up each year, we know we need to help our citizens spay and neuter their pets,” says Memphis Animal Services head Matthew Pepper. “We owe it to both our animal companions and to those citizens who want to obey the law but don’t have the financial resources to do so.”

The vouchers, which will be distributed on a first come basis at several area locations, will allow pet owners to have their animals spayed or neutered for only $10 at Mid-South Spay and Neuter Service. Only 50 vouchers will be available at each location.

Vouchers will be distributed at Ed Rice Community Center in Frayser Friday, June 3rd, starting at 10 a.m.; Orange Mound Community Center Friday, July 11th, starting at noon; Hickory Hill Community Center Saturday, August 6th beginning at 9 a.m.; and Whitehaven Community Center Friday, September 2nd, at noon.

Mid-South Spay and Neuter also received a grant from the H.W. Durham Foundation, a Memphis-based organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for area senior citizens, to help pay for pet spay and neuter services. Pet owners who are age 55 and older are eligible for dog and cat spay and neuter services with a $10 co-pay. Eligible individuals should contact the organization to schedule an appointment; proof of age is required.